Wendy Coduti

Growing up in the Upper Peninsula (UP) of Michigan, mining was a way of life for many families, including my own. My father worked in the mines and I worked during college as a summer student, earning enough to pay for my undergraduate studies at Northern Michigan University. In school (K-12) we learned about the history of mining, immigrants who came to the UP to work in the mines and the struggles many faced trying to organize labor unions to create safer working conditions. I bought this book years ago at the Michigan Historical Museum and have it sitting on my book shelf in my office. "Big Annie" represents the many women who were involved in the union movement. It's a great reminder, not only of where I come from, but of the people who risked their lives working in the mining industry.